Tag: God

THE WAY †

Tomorrow

adacostauf

I was walking my pup this evening, looking at a beautiful sunset, and murmuring a prayer. One about tomorrow. That no matter who wins, that they’ll come to know Jesus. That God will protect this country, because, no matter the outcome, He’s still good.

Because He is good.

Four years ago, I remember staying up until after 3 am, agonizing over who might be the winner of the election. Praying. Hoping the person I had voted for would win, because apparently the country might implode if they didn’t. I remember watching the news so closely, hearing all of the conspiracy theories and panic-inducing reports.

I trusted in the news, and in the candidate. I believe I murmured something like, “no matter the outcome, God is in control.” Did I believe it? I don’t think I acted like it. It was the year after my grandpa (my last remaining immediate family member had passed), and I was a mess. I depended on my grandparents so much for their wisdom… they were preppers. And I simply didn’t know how to prepare.

So saying that I knew God was in control then… maybe I somewhat believed it, and half-heartedly wondered if He needed me to reason with Him on some things. Pray a little harder.

But now?

Now, I do. No matter the outcome, God is in control. No matter the outcome, we are one day closer to Christ’s return. No matter the outcome, my citizenship is in Heaven, and I’m not of this world.

No matter the outcome, Jesus has the final say.

No matter the outcome, victory – eternal victory – is because of the bloody cross, the empty tomb, and the risen Savior.

Whoever wins tomorrow, I pray that they come to know Jesus. That they fall madly in love with Him. Because He is, quite literally, the only hope this country has. America is so beautiful. I was blessed to go on road trips and see dozens of our national parks. That’s God’s handiwork! He’s blessed this country. He’s saved it so many times through so many things.

But this country is far from perfect. No country is perfect. No earthly leader is.

Only God.

And God, The Almighty, The Great I Am… The only being to whom all glory, honor, power, and praise is due – He is in control.

Not through pride, though He has every reason to be proud. Not through power, though every bit of it belongs to Him.

The Lamb of God, born in a manger. The carpenter’s son who walked our steps, probably having blisters on His feet and no place to lay His head. The preacher and prophet who was mocked by the religious many, scoffed at by those who claimed they knew what His Father wanted. They used the law He’d written to condemn Him.

The friend who wiped away tears. The healer of the broken.

The slain Lamb on a bloody cross, placed in a tomb.

The risen Lion who is alive today.

The more imperfect our earthly leader; may we be reminded of how perfect our Father in Heaven is. May we realize how desperately we need Him, and cling to Jesus with all of our hearts. May there be revivals, and abundant joy.

Because no matter the outcome, the prez-elect will not be perfect. But Jesus? He’s the essence of it. And oh, how He loves us.

““Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!”

– Bill & Gloria Gaither, Because He Lives

THE WAY †, Wander

Through Sand & Waves

adacostauf

 

It’s amazing how God can use the smallest, simplest things in life to make the biggest impact. Growing up in Florida, I’ve walked by countless sea turtle nests and have never seen a hatchling. Until last night. I’d been dealing with some anxiety and the sun had finally come out after a pretty terrific rain storm – so I decided to do a prayer walk on the beach.

When I was ready to head back to my car, I noticed this tiny thing moving through the sand. My first instinct was that it was a crab. As I grew closer, I saw it was a turtle! A tiny hatchling. Just ploughing its little way through the sand in kind of a zig-zaggy, desperate manner. He looked determined and helpless at the same time.

I glanced around to see if there were more, or to see if I could find its nest – but I couldn’t. I also looked for other people to tell – because this was a turtle hatchling! How cool was this?! There weren’t any people close by. So I just watched as he made his way through the sand, seemingly covering himself with it – with every swipe of his flippers – yet he finally reached the sea. Then I watched – mesmerized – as the waves tossed him a bit – then he took off into the sunset (quite literally).

Then I was in awe. I was in awe of the instincts built into this tiny little creature. In awe that he seemed so determined to reach the ocean, even though he had no idea what it held for him. He had to get there. He somehow seemed to have faith that it would be ok. That it would be good. Even though he was this itty-bitty thing taking on a giant body of sand and crashing waves. He was cool with it. A bit of a hot mess but he was cool.

And Jesus used this little guy to get to me.

This has been probably the hardest, scariest year of my life. Because my whole immediate family is with Jesus, and it’s just me. I feel too young for this – to be left alone in this big world. To, in my mid-twenties, have no parents to ask advice of. To be brave. To handle all the adult things. To not have my precious loved ones to talk to and run home to.

So this little turtle hatchling taught me a lesson. Because, right now, I have no idea what my future holds. I can only handle tomorrow. I have goals and a list of things I have to do. I have dreams of how I’d love to help people learn about Jesus, what I’d like to write and where I’d love to travel. But it’s so unknown! Will the house I grew up in ever feel like a home again? Am I meant to wander for a while? Will I one day be blessed with a family of my own and sweet children I can name after my Mama and Papa? I wish I knew.

But God. God knows.

I have this hope. This one hope. That had I not been able to handle this, God wouldn’t have allowed it to happen. Had I been destined for the melancholy and depression – it would be so easy to fall into that. But I have this hope. That God has a purpose. He placed me here for a reason. Through every heartbreak and tragedy, I’ve ever been through – He has gotten me through. Through every time I’ve messed up, He’s demonstrated His grace in ways I’ve never thought imaginable.

While I might feel at my loneliest and most scared, He’s still right here. He’s never left me or forsaken me. And while I can’t see what the future holds because right now my sea is rough and I’m new to this chapter of my life, it is in His hands. He will see me through. He will bring out the sun and calm the storm. He’ll help me fight through the rough sand and find His peace beyond the waves. All the time, God is good. All the time, His love never fails. When I’m lonely, He’s never left me. When I’m afraid, He’s still in control. When I’m weak, His power works best in my weakness. And while I want to be sad and question everything, He’s still constant and good. Because He is the Everlasting Father who loves His children more than any of us are capable of understanding.

So why do we have to go through rough sand and rougher waves? This world is broken. It’s rough. It’s a fallen world filled with sin.

But we can cling to our faith – cling to our hope, that among these blinding grains of sand and rough waves there’s a Savior who sees. Who knows the future. He holds the keys to eternity in His hands and wants us to have joy on earth because we are His beloved children. He knows the future. Jesus sees. But even while we’re in the midst of sand and waves He’s here with us every step – or flipper swipe – of the way.